Derby build wall of foreign imports

Derby storm coach Kevin Wall believes his team will win their first BBL Championship northern conference game tonight, but his optimism undermines the prospects of English players in their premier domestic league.

Derby storm coach Kevin Wall believes his team will win their first BBL Championship northern conference game tonight, but his optimism undermines the prospects of English players in their premier domestic league.

Ahead of tonight's game against Edinburgh and tomorrow's League Trophy trip to Leicester, Wall said: "We will be helped by the fact we can put five foreign players on the floor."

Derby field a happier 6ft 8in Panamanian Antonio Garcia since agreeing terms for the rest of the season. The championship's leading rebounder at 19.5 per game and pulling an average of six more boards per game than his nearest challenger, Brendan Graves of Manchester Giants, gives the league much to look forward to. Wall also has 6ft 6in Canadian guard Tony McCrory, who does not require a work permit as his parents are Irish.

London Towers, beaten 95-88 at home by Yugoslavs Budocnost in the Euroleague on Thursday, should recuperate with a win at Brighton Bears tonight.